Agitator for coin handling apparatus and the like



June 6, 1961 w. ANTONOFF ETAL 2,987,160

AGITATOR FOR COIN HANDLING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 9, 1957 INVENTORS ll ALTER ANTONOFF GARDNER L GPA/V T United States Patent 2,987,160 AGITATOR FOR COIN HANDLING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Walter Antonofr, Coventry, and Gardner L. Grant, Providence, R.I., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Universal Controls, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maryland Filed Dec. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 701,409 Claims. (Cl. 194-9) The invention relates generally to coin handling apparatus and, more particularly, to fare boxes, coin counting machines and the like.

A primary object of the instant invention is the provision of novel and improved agitating means for preventing jamming or wedging of the fare parts within the apparatus.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of agitating means for fare boxes and the like, which means may be actuated responsive to the passage of fare parts through the inlet'chute leading to the apparatus.

Another object is the provision of agitating means of the character described so constructed as to enable the coins being agitated to be readily viewed at all times.

A further object of .the present invention is the provision of means for preventing jamming or wedging of coins in fare boxes and the like and particularly in that portion of the apparatus located intermediate the inlet chute and the indexing wheel, which area for purposes of the present invention shall be referred to as the inspection area of the apparatus.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of rotating means for preventing the jamming or wedging of coins in the inspection area of fare boxes and the like, said rotating means comprising a resilient finger which automtatically raises and lowers during predetermined portions of its rotation, for reasons hereinafter to become apparent.

An additional object is the provision of apparatus which enables coins to travel in a straight downward path whereby they may be handled much more quickly than is the case where a zig-zag track is'utilized.

A further object is the provision of coin agitating means of the character described which is simple and effective in operation, feasible to manufacture, and of durable construction.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Inthe dravw'ng's which illustrate the best modepresently utilized in connection with the instant invention.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational 'view of acoin handling machine embodying the instant-invention;

' FIG. 2 is a section'taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on ,line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

' FIG. 4 is'a fragmentary sectional view; of the agitator per se, with the agitating finger in'rais'ed position;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of 'FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of-the electrical circuit utilized in connection with the instant invention:

It has been found desirable to provide improved and more effective agitating means for use'in coin handling apparatus such as fare boxes and the like. More'specifically, one of the primary problems in connection with coin apparatus of this'general "type has been jamming or wedging of the coins or fare parts whereby to completely disrupt the continuity,and'operation of the apparatus: Thus, it is essential for effective operation ofappa'ratus of this type thatpthefare parts, flow freely to the indexing mechanism or the like and that anyjanimirigorwedgingf be effectively prevented. Thus, in'accordancewith 'the' instant invention now to be described, there has been provided a rotating agitator which will continuously impact any shingled or over-riding fare parts at the portion of the apparatus where jamming or wedging is likely to occur. In addition, the rotation of the agitator may be initiated in response to the approach of the fare parts, and means may be provided for maintaining the agitator in operation for a predetermined period of time.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown generally at 10 a coin handling apparatus which may be of any type, but which for purposes of illustration is shown as being a fare box. The apparatus 10 comprises an inclined base 12 along which the coins or fare parts are adapted to gravitate in a manner hereinafter to be made apparent. At the upper portion of the base 12 there is provided a hopper 14 adapted to simultaneously receive a multiple throw fare. As will be noted, hopper 14 communicates with a chute 16 from which the coins or fare parts are directed to an inspection area generally designated at 18. At cover plate having an upper portion 20 and lower portions 22 and 22a is mounted on the base 12 in spaced relation thereto, as will be seen most clearly in FIG. 2. Actually the portion 22a functions as a thickness gage and hence is spaced from base 12 a distance just slightly greater than the thickness of a single coin, whereas the portions 20 and 22 are spaced from the base an appreciably greater distance. For reasons hereinafter to be made apparent, the cover portion 22 is provided with beveled shoulders 24 defining an integral, arcuate, raised flange 26.

As will be seen most clearly in Fig. 5, the base 12 is provided wtih abutment portions 28 and 3.0 for directing the fare parts to the inspection area 18. In addition, abutments 32, 34, 36 and 38 cooperate to guide the fare parts through the inspection area 18 and under the thickness gauge 22a to an indexing rotor 40 where the said parts received one by one by the said rotor and are carried away to perform a registering, counting, or separating operation or the like.

As will be obvious, in order to insure successful and efiicient operation of the coin handling apparatus 10, it is essential that the fare parts flow in an uninterrupted stream through the inspection area 18 to the rotor 40. It has been found, however, that jamming or wedging of the coins or fare parts frequently occurs at the lower portion of the inspection area 18, and particularly at that area intermediate the abutment 38 and the lower extremity of abutment 34, which is the area just above the thickness gauge 2221. In order to prevent this undesirable occurrence, agitating means now to be described have been provided. 1

Referring primarily to FIGS. land 2, the agitating means comprise a disc 42 of Lucite or other transparent plastic, which disc is rotatably mounted on the base 12 in spaced relation thereto. Morespeci-fically, a shaft 4.4 havinga hub 46 secured thereto is secured to the under surface vof the disc 42 by means of screws 48. As will be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the disc 42 is spaced from the base 12 a distance substantiallyv equal to the spacing between cover 20 and the said base. Also, it will be noted that motor 50 is mounted to ,the under surface of base 12 for .driving the shaft ,44 and hence imparting rotation to the disc 42 which rotation in the illustrated apparatus is clockwise, viewing Fig. 1. It will be understood thatthe coverportion 22-is provided with a suitable opening for receiving ,the disc 42,-it being apparent that the upper portion of said opening is bordered by the raised arcuate flange ,26. a

' Secured to the upper surface of the disc 42 is a diametrically extendin gmetallic strap 52. As will be noted, the strap 52 is secured to the disc 42 by means of screws 54 located at one extremity of the said strap, whereby the latter, due to its inherent resilience, may be raised and lowered at its unsecured end with respect to the disc.- As will be seen most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4, a spring 56 overlies the strap 52 and is secured in position by means of the screws 54, the said spring functioning to resiliently urge the strap 52 into abutting engagement with the upper surface of disc 42.

The strap 52, at its unsecured end, is provided with a downwardly depending finger or flange 58, it being noted that the said finger extends in a substantially radial direction and that it is located adjacent the periphery of the disc 42, the said disc being provided with a notched opening 60 for receiving the said finger or flange. Preferably the opening 60 is undercut as at 61 for reasons later to be described. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, when the strap 52 is in its lowermost position, the flange 58 extends toward the base 12 but is spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a single coin, or in other words, the lower edge of the finger is at approximately the same level as the under surface of thickness gauge 22a. Adjacent the finger 58, or more specifically, at the outermost extremity of the unsecured end of strap 52, there is provided a depending block 62, the purpose of which will hereinafter be made apparent. understood that the block 62 is located outwardly of the periphery of the disc 42, the strap 52 extending therebeyond for this specific purpose.

In addition to the above described structure, the agitator disc 42 carries adjacent its central portion a depending pin 64. More specifically, the pin 64 may extend from the hub portion 46, and, as will be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the pin terminates in closely spaced relation to base 12. Hub 46 also carries an upwardly rotation of shaft 66 and movement of shutter 80 to interrupt the light beam to photocell 72. This in turn causes energization' of motor 50, which in turn causes rotation of the agitator disc 42. Meanwhile, the fare parts have gravitated into inspection area 18 and are directed toward the lower portion of said inspectionarea by means of the abutments 32 and 34. At this point, or just above the entrance to thickness gauge 22a, there will be a tendency for thefare parts to accumulate and congregate whereupon jamming and wedging is likely to occur. This is prevented, however, by the rotation of the agitator disc 42 and, more specifically, by the action of finger or flange 58 which will impact any shingled or over-riding fare parts or coins whereby to effectively scatter them. At

the same time, any tendency for a fare part to come to rest against the upper surface of shaft 44 and hub 46 is effectively thwarted by means of the pin 64, it being apparent that the said pin will function to clear the area adjacent the said shaft and hub.

In order that the agitator parts will not be irreparably damaged should an unbreakable jam occur, the notch 60 has been specifically made large enough for the finger end of strap 52 to twist or rotate upwardly, whereby the It will be finger 58 will simply pass over the unbreakable jam. This action is made possible by the presence of upwardly extending abutment pin 63, which pin, in effect, acts as a fulcrum against which the strap will twist when finger 58 impacts an unbreakable jam. Undercut 61 provides additional clearance for the upward twisting of finger 58.

In some cases, it has been found that during rotation of the agitator additional fare parts may be entering the inspection area from chute 16, which fare parts are like- 1y to be impacted by the finger 58 when the latter is extending pin 63, said pin providing an abutment against on cross shaft 66 rotatably journalled in bearings 68,

cross shaft 66 being normally maintained in closed position by means of counterweight 70. It will be understood, however, that passage of a fare through the chute 16 willcause the gate 65 to swing to its open position, thereby causing rotation of the shaft 66, to which the gate is afiixed. As will be seen most clearly in FIG. 1, there is mounted on the upper portion of the apparatus 10 a photocell 72 and a light source or bulb 74 spaced therefrom. It will be understood that the photocell 72 and bulb 74 are mounted by any suitable bracket means such as 76 and 78, respectively, and it will further be'understood that the bulb 74 is maintained illuminated by anysuitable power source. Aifixed to the shaft '66 adjacent its outer extremity and disposed intermediate photocell in its uppermost position, which impact may conceivably deflect the fare parts upwardly and back into the chute '16. In order to prevent this undesirable occurrence, the raised arcuate flange 26, carried by upper portion 22,

. and the block 62 cooperate in a cam-like manner to raise the free end of strap 52 and hence the depending finger or'flange 58 when the latter is in the upper por-v tion of its path, note FIG. 4. Thus, the upper surface of'portion 22a is at a relatively low level whereupon I the spring 56 is free to urge the finger 58 to-its lowermost or operative position, note FIG. 2. It will therefore be apparent that the agitating finger 58 is operative in that portion of the inspection area where agitation is necessary and desired, while the said agitating finger automatically becomes inoperative as it passes through the portion of the inspection area where agitation is neither necessary nor desirable. It will be understood that the beveled shoulder-s24 enable the block 60 to ride smoothly on to flange 26 in the manner afore .2 described. Also, the transparent construction of disc 42' 72 and bulb 74 is a shutter 80 having an aperture. 82

provided therein. Swinging gate 65, shaft 66 and shutter 80 are so arranged that when the gate is in its normally closed position, aperture 82 in shutter 80 enables a light beam to be transmitted from bulb 74 to photocell 72. Upon opening movement of the gate 65 due to the passage of a fare through the chute 16, shaft 66 and shutter 80 are rotated to interrupt the light beam whereby photocell 72 causes actuation of relay 84 which in. turn closes the circuit to motor 50 whereby to cause the agitator disc 42 to commence rotation. Conventional timedelay means 86 are provided for maintaining thecircujt single-part fare, the weight of the said fare will cause the gate 65 in chute 16 to swing open thereby causing enables the fare parts to beconstantly. viewed during their agitation 1 While there is shownland described herein certain specific structureembodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the. parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying, inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except in so far as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

1. An agitator for preventing jamming or wedging of fare parts in coin machines and the like, comprising a base surface along which the fare parts are adapted to gravitate, a transparent disc. rotatably mounted in spaced relation to said base, a flat metallic strap extending diametrically across the top surface of said disc and secured theretoadjacent one of its ends, a downward- I ly extending flange carried .by said strap adjacent its other end and terminating in spaced relation to said base, ai re? lafisa sm l iessl h r e ha the thickness of a single coin, an opening in said disc through which the said flange extends, and means for rotating said disc.

2. In the agitator of claim 1, said disc having an upwardly extending pin located substantially centrally thereof and providing an abutment against the trailing edge of said strap.

3. The agitator of claim 1, further characterized in that said flange extends in a substantially radial direction with respect to said disc, and a downwardly depending pin carried by said disc, said pin terminating in closely spaced relation to said base and being located radial- 1y inward of the inner edge of said flange.

4. In the agitator of claim 1, means associated with said strap for resiliently urging it to its normal downward position, said strap at its unsecured end having a portion extending outwardly beyond the periphery of said disc, and fixed cam means cooperating with said outwardly extending portion for automatically raising said flange away from said base during a predetermined portion of the disc rotation.

5. In a coin handling machine, the combination of a hopper for receiving a multiple throw fare, an inspection area located below said hopper and having a downwardly inclined base along which the fare parts are adapted to gravitate in a substantially straight path, a chute associated with said hopper for directing the fare parts downwardly to said inspection area, agitating means in the upper portion of said inspection area for preventing jamming or wedging of said fare parts, said agitating means comprising a disc rotatably mounted in spaced relation to said base, a finger carried by said disc adjacent the periphery thereof, said finger extending in a substantially radial direction with respect to said disc and depending toward said base, a motor for rotating said disc, a swinging gate normally blocking said chute but adapted to be swung open by the weight of fate parts passing therethrough, means actuated by the opening movement of said gate for energizing said motor, and fixed cam means for automatically raising said finger away from said base as the said finger passes adjacent the lower end of said chute.

6. In the combination of claim 5, said motor energizing means comprising a photocell.

7. In the combination of claim 5, said disc further having a pin extending toward said base and terminating in closely spaced relation thereto, said pin being located radially inward of said finger.

8. In a coin handling machine, a hopper for receiving a multiple throw fare, an inspection area located below said hopper and having a downwardly inclined base along which the fare parts are adapted to gravitate, a chute associated with said hopper for directing the fare parts downwardly to said inspection area, agitating means in said inspection area for preventing jamming or wedging of said fare parts, said agitating means comprising a plate rotatably mounted in spaced, substantially parallel relation to said base, a projecting finger carried by said plate and extending toward said base, means for rotating said plate, said projecting finger being spaced from said base a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a single coin and means for automatically raising said projecting finger away from said base during a predetermined portion of the plate rotation.

9. In a coin handling machine, a hopper for receiving a multiple throw fare, an inspection area located below said hopper and having a downwardly inclined base along which the fare parts are adapted to gravitate in a substantially straight path, a chute associated with said hopper for directing the fare parts downwardly to said inspection area, agitating means in said inspection area for preventing jamming or wedging of said fare parts, said agitating means comprising a transparent disc rotatably mounted in spaced, substantially parallel relation to said base, a resilient finger carried by said disc extending toward said base and normally terminating in spaced relation thereto, said finger being located adjacent the periphery of said disc and extending in a substantially radial direction, means for imparting rotation to said disc, and cam means for automatically raising said finger away from said base during a predetermined portion of the disc rotation.

10. In a coin handling machine, a hopper for receiving a multiple throw fare, an inspection area located below said hopper and having a downwardly inclined base along which the fare parts are adapted to gravitate in a substantially straight path, a chute associated with said hopper for directing the fare parts downwardly to said inspection area, agitating means in said inspection area for preventing jamming or wedging of said fare parts, said agitating means comprising a transparent disc rotatably mounted in spaced, substantially parallel relation to said base, a resilient finger carried by said disc extending toward said base and normally terminating in spaced relation thereto, said finger being located adjacent the periphery of said disc and extending in a substantially radial direction, means for imparting rotation to said disc, said rotating means comprising a motor, and means for energizing said motor responsive to the passage of fare parts through said chute, said energizing means comprising a normally closed swinging gate in said chute adapted to be swung open by the downwardly passing fares, a photocell mounted on said apparatus and having a light beam operatively associated therewith, said photocell and said motor being so related that interruption of the light beam to the former causes energization of the latter, and a shutter associated with said photocell, said shutter being mounted for movement between a first position wherein said light beam is not blocked and a second position wherein the said beam is blocked, said shutter being connected with said swinging gate whereby movement of the former from its first to its second position is controlled by opening movement of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,906,276 Blanchette et al. Sept. 29, 1959 

